'Rust' western movie armorer, Hannah Gutierrez, discharged from jail
On Friday, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer for the Alec Baldwin western film "Rust," was released from a New Mexico women's prison after serving 14 months for her conviction of involuntary manslaughter. Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced last year for her role in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during filming.
The release marks the conclusion of the criminal phase of the "Rust" saga, following a series of events that led to Hutchins' death on the movie set south of Santa Fe, New Mexico, in October 2021. Gutierrez-Reed was one of three people charged, with Assistant Director David Halls and Baldwin himself also involved in the case.
New Mexico prosecutors faulted Gutierrez-Reed for reckless handling of firearms and ammunition, alleging she had unwittingly brought live bullets to the Bonanza Creek Ranch location, mingling them with inert "dummy" bullets used on film sets. However, Gutierrez-Reed denied this allegation, and there was no conclusive evidence presented about the origins of the live bullets.
Gutierrez-Reed had initially been sentenced to 18 months in prison, making hers the maximum sentence for her conviction. She was released on parole, under terms that include mental health assessments and a ban on firearm possession.
Halls, the assistant director on the film, pleaded no contest to a charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon and received a six-month suspended sentence. He has since retired from the film industry and completed community service, firearm safety classes, and other requirements.
Baldwin, who pointed the gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal, was charged with involuntary manslaughter for the shooting that killed Hutchins, a rising star in the industry, and wounded the film's director, Joel Souza. However, charges against Baldwin were dismissed twice, with the final ruling stating that the charges could not be brought again due to the concealment of evidence by prosecutors and sheriff's deputies, prejudicing the case against Baldwin.
Beyond the criminal proceedings, civil lawsuits against Baldwin and the producers, including from Hutchins' family members, remain unresolved. The movie was finally released in the United States this month on a limited number of screens after being captured for 18 months.
[1] Associated Press. (2023, October 28). Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, armorer in Alec Baldwin film shooting, released from prison. ABC News. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/hannah-gutierrezreed-armorer-alec-baldwin-film-shooting-released-116851102
[2] Martens, M. (2023, October 28). Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, armorer on 'Rust,' released from prison after 14 months. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hannah-gutierrezreed-rust-armorer-released-from-prison-after-14-months-12418763/
[3] Variety Staff. (2023, October 28). 'Rust' armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed released from prison. Variety. Retrieved from https://variety.com/2023/film/news/rust-armorer-hannah-gutierrez-reed-prison-release-1241874732/
[4] Schwartzel, S., & Barbour, L. (2023, October 28). 'Rust' armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed released from prison. Associated Press. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/d046565b26d3893c4abf4e05e8a21697
- Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the Hollywood armorer for the Alec Baldwin western film "Rust," was recently released from a New Mexico women's prison after serving 14 months for her involuntary manslaughter conviction.
- The movie industry, particularly in California and Hollywood, has been following the "Rust" saga closely, given the circumstances of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' death on the film set.
- Beyond the criminal proceedings, the general news and crime-and-justice sectors have been abuzz with the civil lawsuits against Baldwin and the producers, including from Hutchins' family members.
- In California's entertainment industry, the entertainment world is keenly aware of the health and safety implications for actors, crew members, and the general public, given the tragic accident on the "Rust" movie set.
- As word spreads of Gutierrez-Reed's release, the spotlight now turns to the future implications for Hollywood, especially in terms of law and safety procedures on film sets.
- Given the global impact of movies and the influence of celebrities, the "Rust" case serves as a reminder for strict adherence to safety protocols and the responsibility that each player holds in the entertainment business.
